AJ sighed as he walked into the conference toom. Nick was going to be coming back today and he wasn't sure how things were going to be. It had been two months since Nick had been locked up. AJ knew that Nicks time in jail either made him want to change or made him tougher.
"You ready for Nick?" Brian asked watching AJ sit down across from him.
"Not really," AJ said.
"Didn't think so."
"So did you guys find out if Jen is pregnant yet?" Howie asked, knowing AJ's feelings.
"She is," AJ told them, "but we don't know if it's mine or Nicks."
"Wasn't she with you last?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah, only one time tough and she was with Nick two nights before," AJ said.
"Damn," Howie said, "that's gotta be tough, we know how much you wanted this baby to be yours."
"What am I supposed to do if the baby isn't mine?" AJ asked.
"That's something you have to decide on your own. We can't help you there," Brian said. Their attention was turned to the door when they heard a knock. Nick stood in the door way with the guys looking on at him.
"Welcome back," Brian said.
"Thanks," Nick said.
"Wow, the beast had been tamed!" Kevin joked.
"Funny," Nick said sarcastically.
"How you feeling?" Brian asked.
"Alright, much better actually," Nick confessed.
"That's great," Brian said, "but do you realize what you did to Jen was wrong?"
"Yeah and I'm sorry. I want to apologise to her, do you think that's possible?"
"About Jen," AJ said.
"What about her?" Nick asked.
"She's pregnant."
"What?"
"We don't know if the baby is yours or mine. It was too close to tell."
"Your kidding me."
"No, I'm very serious."
"Shit," Nick said dropping into empty chair.
"Nick don't get to worked up about this," Brian warned hoping that he wouldn't get angry.
"I know, I know," Nick said and took a minute to think, "the baby might not be mine right?"
"Yeah, it could be mine," AJ said.
"What are you gonna do?" Howie asked.
"I don't know but I don't want this baby to be mine. I don't love her," Nick said.
"At least now you've got your priorities straight," Kevin said.
"Why don't you love her?" AJ asked.
"I just don't and even if I did, she sure as hell wouldn't want me. Not after what I did. Like I said, I don't love her. I never did. I don't want her, but what the hell am I supposed to do if this kid is mine? I thought I just had to worry about Anthony, I could deal with that."
"Nick don't worry," Howie said.
"How am I not supposed to worry? I just found out I might have another kid," Nick said trying to stay calm.
"Just think, it might be mine," AJ said.
"Yeah, but it might be mine too! I have to be prepared for that."
"Lets not worry about this right now, there's really nothing we can do but wait and see until the baby is born and we give it a blood test," Brian said.
"Yeah, okay," AJ said.
*Meanwhile*
Jen felt a tear roll down her cheek as she placed her hand on her stomach. She couldn't believe that she didn't know who the father was. Jen had always believed that she would never be in this situation. Never had she thought she would have kids before she was even married either.
In her heart, Jen wanted this to be AJ's baby. He would be the one who would make a better father. Not only that, but she knew how much this would mean to him. As well as how much it would hurt him to know that this wasn't his child.
Without warning, Jen had fallen in love with AJ. She never meant to, it wasn't like he wasn't a great guy because he was, she was just afraid of getting too close to him then losing him. The pure thought of losing AJ tore Jens heart apart.
He and Anthony were the only things that helped her stay sane. AJ always knew just what to say ro make her feel better. That was something that helped her in ways that she couldn't even begin to explain. He was truly special to her and she was never going to let him go.
That was the last thing Jen wanted because now if things didn't work out, it would hurt her more than anything to let go. Loving him was exactly what she was afraid of. Risking the fact that she might get hurt scared Jen. Not knowing who the father of her child was scared her even more.
Jen hoped that AJ would be home soon. He had moved in with her so that she wouldn't have to be alone. Being alone was the last thing Jen needed. As Jen laid in her bed her mind wandered to what might be going on with the guys at that moment.
She knew that Nick would be returning today and she didn't know if Nick would still be mad at AJ. Not only that but AJ and herself had agreed that Nick had the right to know about the pregnancy. Originally, Jen wanted to keep it from him regardless of weather this was Nick's child or not. She knew that this definately wouldn't keep him relaxed.
A lot had changed since Nick had gone to jail. The biggest change was that Nick had to find a new place to live. He had lived in this house too. Jen felt bad for Nick, she wasn't sure why after the things he had done to her. Maybe it was because she cared about other people. That's what made her different than Nick.
Jen got out of the bed when she heard a car pull up in the driveway. She headed down the stairs and walked into the living room. Jen stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Nick with AJ. She just stood there, amazed by what she saw.
"Jen lets talk," AJ said.
"Yeah, I think that's a great idea," Jen said, never taking her eyes off Nick.
"Before you guys say anything, Jen let me apologise. What I did was wrong. I just want to let you know that I realize that now," Nick said hoping that Jen wouldn't get mad.
"Nick, I loved you. I thought you were the one that I was going to be with for the rest of my life. We had a son, but yet, you still hurt me. I don't understand why you did what you did, nor will I ever understand," a tearful Jen said. AJ looked at Nick who appeared to be touched by Jens words.
"I'm not asking for you to understand what I did because there's really no explaination for why I was like that. I'm not asking you to fall in love with me again because that would just be plain stupid. I am asking for your forgiveness, and I know that's a lot to ask. Just do it for Anthony if for anything," Nick said.
"I'm only doing this because I want Anthony to know his real father. That and we might possibly have another, I'm sure AJ told you that already. Just don't think I'm going to forget what you did because I can't and I won't," Jen said.
"I don't expect you to forget," Nick said.
"We have some issues we have to work out between all of us that need to get cleared up as soon as possible," AJ said.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Jen said sitting on the couch.
"A child is about to be brought into this. We have to make sure we are doing the right thing. Either Nick is going to be a father for a second time or I'm going to be a first time father, but either way, we all are gonna have to get along," AJ said.
"Agreed," Jen said trying to move on.
"Yeah," Nick said nodding his head.
"Alright, good," AJ said.
Chapter 11